North Korea has begun special political lectures for government officials to promote its recent decision to send troops to the Russia-Ukraine war. This follows the country’s official admission last month that it deployed soldiers to aid Russia. According to a source from Daily NK in Kangwon province, the Workers’ Party’s propaganda and agitation department issued new lecture materials about this deployment on May 21. Kangwon province’s party committee then held a regular Saturday lecture for officials using these materials.
The lecture materials claim that North Korean combat units participated in operations to liberate Russia’s Kursk region. They state that these forces helped eliminate Ukrainian “neo-Nazi” troops and defended Russian territory. The documents praise the Korean People’s Army’s fighting spirit and tactical skills to inspire pride in North Korea’s military strength.
The lecturer emphasized that North Korea leads an international alliance against imperialism. The message aimed to assure officials that the country’s military power is strong enough to defend the homeland and to influence the global balance of power. North Korea described itself as a great power leading the world’s political situation, using the troop deployment as evidence of its growing presence on the world stage.
Some officials expressed surprise and pride, noting a feeling of becoming international players. They also showed curiosity about the operation, asking about the location of Kursk, how the troops reached the battlefield, and what weapons were used.
This special lecture was not planned in the original yearly schedule set by the party’s propaganda and agitation department. The change came after North Korea officially acknowledged its participation in the Russia-Ukraine war. This suggests the new lectures are meant to justify the deployment internally and strengthen support among officials.
The party rarely issues separate political lecture materials outside of national holidays or planned policies, making this development unusual. North Korea’s confirmation of troop deployment marks a shift from its usual isolation and non-involvement in international conflicts. Experts see this move as part of Pyongyang’s effort to build stronger ties with Russia and to gain political and military support amid sanctions.
International reactions have been concerned, with Western countries and South Korea warning that North Korea’s involvement could escalate the conflict and destabilize the region. Analysts believe this participation may complicate efforts to find a peaceful solution to the war. It also raises questions about how far North Korea will go to assert itself as a global power.
North Korea’s special political lectures show the regime’s effort to explain and promote its troop deployment internally. By portraying its soldiers as leaders in a global anti-imperialist alliance, the government seeks to strengthen official backing for its actions. This development reflects North Korea’s broader strategy to increase its role as an active international player.
